Part incentive reed Provide, pernicious with one touch of fire.
Milton.
In*cen"tive, n. [L. incentivum.] That which moves or influences the
mind, or operates on the passions; that which incites, or has a
tendency to incite, to determination or action; that which prompts to
good or ill; motive; spur; as, the love of money, and the desire of
promotion, are two powerful incentives to action.
The greatest obstacles, the greatest terrors that come in their
way, are so far from making them quit the work they had begun, that
they rather prove incentives to them to go on in it.
South.
Syn. -- Motive; spur; stimulus; incitement; encouragement; inducement;
influence.
In*cen"tive*ly, adv. Incitingly; encouragingly.
In*cep"tion (?), n. [L. inceptio, fr. incipere to begin; pref. in- in +
capere to take. See Capable.]